Howard Berman campaign to gain two GOP senators' support

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Rep. Howard Berman, gripped in a tough reelection battle with fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman for the same San Fernando Valley congressional district seat, is expected to get endorsements Monday from two prominent Republican U.S. senators.

Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, plus Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, the former Democrat turned independent, will back Berman, the congressman's campaign confirmed Sunday.

Although Democrats outnumber Republicans in the recently redrawn district 48% to 26%, both candidates have been courting GOP voters as well as those without party affiliation, who make up about 21% of registered voters there.

Berman finished second, 10 points behind Sherman, in the seven-candidate June primary and has been scrambling to make up the difference.